No justice from police in framing case: Nazim

Former Defence Minister and Dhangethi MP Mohamed Nazim has said that justice has not been served to him even after he was released from an unjust 11-year jail sentence during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.

Nazim was acquitted in 2018 by the Supreme Court on charges of possession of a pistol and ammunition. The Supreme Court ordered a review of his prison sentence. However, police have not investigated the case till date, Nazim said in a statement.

While he was the Defence Minister of the previous government, police raided Nazim's house in riot gear and arrested him with a pistol and a pen drive on January 18, 2015. After a police investigation, he was charged and convicted of possession of a weapon of war.

It had been proven that the police had made serious mistakes after they entered Nazim's residence. His lawyers said the trial was not free or fair, and that Nazim had been framed. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Nazim.

Nazim, who is also the Maldives National Party (MNP)'s leader and presidential candidate, said he was unjustly imprisoned for three years and six months. It was a punishment he received without committing a crime, he said.

"I believe that justice should be available to everyone. Freeing the investigation, prosecution and trial processes must be done for the sake of the entire country. Without justice, individual freedom cannot be guaranteed. Freedom of the political arena cannot be guaranteed," the statement said.

Nazim, who will be contesting this year's presidential election, said the country needs to solve such major issues. He also assured that if he gets the opportunity to run the state, he will establish justice without political bias.

While Nazim reiterated that he was framed and jailed unjustly, the police later said the DNA of former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was found on the pistol. No fingerprints or DNA of Nazim were found on the pistol.

While the prosecution has refused to investigate Nazim's case and bring justice to him, Adeeb had said that he has nothing to do with Nazim and the pistol.